Liverpool face FA fine despite VAR controversy at Tottenham and PGMOL apology

01 October 2023 , 14:35

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Liverpool face FA fine despite VAR controversy at Tottenham and PGMOL apology

Liverpool could be set to fork out a huge FA fine following the VAR controversy in their defeat against Tottenham.

The Reds went down to nine men in North London after Curtis Jones was given a red card. Diogo Jota followed him off the pitch following two bookable offences.

Liverpool ’s complaints did not end there. Luiz Diaz had a first-half goal ruled out for offside, with the PGMOL apologising for a clear “human error” in disallowing the strike. Things could get even worse for the Merseysiders, who could be forced to pay a £25k fine. A host of Liverpool players were given cautions outside of the two dismissals.

Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk all picked up bookings, whilst assistant manager Peter Krawietz also went into the referee’s book. The FA usually punishes clubs that pick up five bookings in a game - criteria that Liverpool met in their trip to Spurs.

A £25k fine is usually the punishment for those that accumulate six bookings or more in a single match. It is now down to the game's governing body to decide if they come down hard on Klopp’s men.

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However, the circumstances in which the cards were issued could potentially see Liverpool spared. Any fine will only likely worsen Jurgen Klopp’s mood. The German was left furious with the refereeing decisions that went against his side.

Liverpool could face a fine for their ill discipline vs Tottenham (Getty Images)

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Speaking after his side’s 2-1 defeat, he said: "I was never more proud of the team than today. I never saw a game like this with the most unfair circumstances, crazy decisions.

"We scored an own goal, that is really tough to take but I am really proud. The first red card, Curtis steps on the ball and goes over. Not a bad tackle. It looks different in slow motion. He steps full throttle on the ball and goes over the ball. That is unlucky. [For Diogo Jota] first yellow was not a yellow. Then he gets a second and to defend with nine players is tricky.

He continued: “The offside goal. That is not offside when you see it, they drew their lines wrong. The ball is between Mo's legs, they drew the line wrong and didn't judge the moment when Mo passed the ball right. It is so tough to deal with it."

While Liverpool could face an FA punishment, the officials responsible for the decisions against the Reds have already felt consequences. Darren England, who was on VAR duty for the game, was replaced as the fourth official for Nottingham Forest ’s clash with Brentford at the City Ground on Sunday.

Daniel Orme